Multi-functional table arrangement

ABSTRACT

In a multi-functional table arrangement for use in combination with some form of wall enclosure or other housing, a table formed having a substructure which includes means for supporting a leg assembly in the forward portion of the table, and a pair of longitudinal slides connecting at their forward ends with the table substructure and within the wall enclosure at their rearward ends to provide for the extension or contraction of the table with respect to said wall enclosure or housing. The top or surface member of the table arrangement may be utilized as a night stand, refreshment bar, or desk when said table is contracted into the wall enclosure, or may be employed as a table for dining, a conference, or the like, when the table arrangement is extended from the wall enclosure; and the table top or surface member may also be adapted for unfolding into a larger size planar surface so as to provide greater area when utilized as said table. Lateral slides interconnect within the table substructure and to the underside of the table top so as to provide for the centralizing of said top when maintained in this unfolded relationship.

United States Patent 1 Bennett MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TABLE ARRANGEMENTInventor: Hilliard D. Bennett, 1318 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Ark.71901 Filed:

Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Darrell MarquetteAttorney-Paul M. Denk July 17, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT In a multi-functionaltable arrangement for use in combination with some form of wallenclosure or other housing, a table formed having a substructure whichincludes means forsupporting a leg assembly in the forward portion ofthe' table, and a pair of longitudinal slides connecting at theirforward ends with the table substructure and within the wall enclosureat their rearward ends to provide for the extension or contraction ofthe table with respect to said wall enclosure or housing. The top orsurface member of the table arrangement may be utilized as a nightstand, refreshment bar, or desk when saidtable is contracted into thewall enclosure, or may be employed as a table for dining, a conference,or the like, when the table arrangement is extended from the wallenclosure; and the table top or surface member may also be adapted forunfolding into a larger size planar surface so as to provide greaterarea when utilized as said table. Lateral slides interconnect within thetable substructure and to the underside of the table top so as toprovide for the centralizing of said top when maintained in thisunfolded relationship.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnJuu H923 FIGJ , INVENTOR HILLIARDD. BENNETT ATTORNEY PAIENIEU JUL 1 7 m5 sum ear 3 INVENTOR HI LLIARD D.BEN

BY 47M ATTORNEY Pam-mu Hm sum 3 ur a INVENTOR H l LLIARD D. BENNETT @w/zflm/ ATTORNEY MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TABLE ARRANGEMENT CROSS-REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION The subject matter of this application is partiallyrelated to the subject matter of a United States patent issued to thesame inventor entitled Wall Bed Structure, US. Pat. No. 3,550,167.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to amulti-functional table arrangement wherein a table-like embodiment maybe extended from a wall enclosure, and expanded to form a table topsurface area of rather enlarged dimensions, or the table arrangement maybe contracted back into the wall enclosure and utilized in the manner ofa night stand or desk; the invention has particular application incommercial establishments where space is usually acquired at a premiumvalue.

The prior art devices having any relationship to the type of tablearrangement disclosed and described herein have thus far revealed atable unit that could be slid through an aperture in a wall so that itcan be used separately in two different adjacent rooms at separatetimes. This particular embodiment in a prior art table simply employed astandard four-legged table that conveniently fit into a cut out portionin a wall having dimensions similar to the end profile of the legs andtop of the table. Its passage back and forth between rooms was achievedsimply through the exertion of a manual pushing force. Another prior artpatent discloses a standard table whose top may be unfolded to doubleits surface area. Other prior art devices disclose table top likearrangements that have pivotally connected proximate one edge a legmeans, with the opposite edge of the table top being hinged to All ofwall or the like. Allof these prior art devices appear to be constructedmore for their portability, and generally achieve the particular resultsfor which they have been constructed.

The present invention contemplates some of the features disclosed in theprior art, but includes within its construction many more operativecomponents that render the co-operation between its basic table-likefeatures more efficient in operation, easier to assemble, and morecompact even though useful for a plurality of purposes.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide afunctional table assembly which may be partially inserted into a wallenclosure and therein function in the capacity of a conveniently sizednight stand or desk, or be withdrawn from said enclosure, ex-

panded, and utilized in the manner of a common table for dining, or thelike.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table arrangementwhich may be used in co-operation with wall type bed structures andtherein-function in the capacity as a night stand adjacent one or moreof said beds.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a multi-functionaltable arrangement wherein the leg as- .sembly mounting the table at oneend may be removed as when its table top has been moved into anassociated wall enclosure and therein conveniently function as a compactnight stand or desk.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a tablearrangement which issufficiently compact and integrally constructed toprovide for its ease of longitudinal movement into or out of a wallenclosure, and

which also incorporates features which provide for its convenientlateral expansion into a table having ample surface area.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table arrangementincorporating longitudinal and lateral slides that permits andfacilitates the maneuverability of the table into various positions fordivers usage.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a tablearrangement wherein its table top or surface area when fully expanded issufficiently stabilized to provide a rigid table that can be used forany purpose.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide amulti-functional table arrangement which is simple to manufacture,compact in structure, capable of being used in conjunction with otheritems of domestic fumiture, and yet is easy to handle so that it may beutilized in commercial establishments such as guest occupants at amotel.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art through a review of the followingsummary andthe description of its preferred embodiment and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION is essential. This table arrangement includes atable substructure which is supported at its extendible end by means ofaleg assembly, and at its other end by means of longitudinal slideswhich mount directly within a wall enclosure wherein the table may bewithdrawn as when not in use and allows for more open space to be madeavailable within the accompanying room. While the rear slide members ofthese longitudinallyextending slides are connected within the wallenclosure, the front slide members of said longitudinal slides connectdirectly to the table substructure, or more particularly, to its braces.Lateral slides also interconnect between the braces of the tablesubstructure, said lateral slides being formed including abottom slidemember which, as previously stated, interconnects between the tablebraces, with each bottom slide member having a cone sponding top lateralslide member that may be slid within the same. This top lateral slidemember connects to the underside of the table top or surface area, andis convenient in providing for shifting of the table top to one side aswhen said top is formed having a pair of table leaves which may beunfolded to expand the width of the table top. Such is necessary toprovide for the centralizing and stabilizing of the table top as when itis of the multiple leaf. type unfolding table top.

This table arrangement may be employed in various establishments such amotels, hotels, or the like, where it is desirable to increase the roomarea by reducing the size of furniture contained therein, and it furthermay be used in conjunction with wall bed structures such as the type Ihave disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,550,167, and relating to'aninvention upon Wall Bed Structure. When the invention of this presentapplication is used in conjunction with the type of wall bed structuresas described in the foregoing application, it can easily be seen howample room can be readily acquired in rather confined areas, such as amotel room, rendering said rooms readily convertible for use forconferences or similar functions. Furthermore, and when the room isutilized, for example, conference purposes, the table arrangement ofthis invention may be extended although not unfolded, as previouslydescribed, to provide a narrow table that may be used during theconference, either in the capacity of a desk, or even as a bar forsocial purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-functional table arrangementof this invention being fully extended from its wall enclosure andexpanded to provide a complete table top area;

FIG. 2 provides a perspective of the table arrangement of this inventionbeing fully withdrawn into its wall enclosure, as fragmentarily shownherein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the table arrangement being fullyextended from its wall enclosure and with its table top in the processof being unfolded and expanded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the table arrangement being fullyextended from its wall enclosure, and with its top being maintainedfolded, or perhaps pennanently affixed to the table substructure.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG.4, and primarily showing a longitudinal slide as used in conjunctionwith the table substructure and wall enclosure;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG.4, and showing one embodiment of the lateral slide as used inconjunction with the table substructure;

FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of disjoined top and bottom slidemembers of one of the lateral slides;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7, showingthe top slide member being maintained at a left side of the bottom slidemember, with a phantom line view of said top slide member as disposed atthe right side, of said bottom slide member;

FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of disjoined front and rear slidemembers of one of the longitudinal slides of this invention;

FIG. 10 provides an inner side view of a longitudinal slide showing thefront slide member being fully withdrawn within its rear slide member,and in phantom line showing the front slide member being fully extendedforwardmost of its rear slide member; and

FIG. 11 provides a perspective partial view of the table substructureprimarily showing the means for connection of the leg assembly to thetable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsfor an illustrative embodiment of the table arrangement of thisinvention, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 generally depicts the tablearrangement as fully extended from its wall enclosure, generally at 2,and being unfolded to dispose a full surface table top. This tablearrangement may be incorporated to act in conjunction with an enclosureformed wherein any type of wall of a room, or it may be used inconjunction with an enclosure, such as the enclosure a door 6, and arecess 7 may be conveniently provided for retention of papers, letters,or the like.

The table 1, as revealed in FIG. 2, is herein withdrawn within its wallenclosure 2, and in this retracted state may be used in the form of anight stand or desk, or as any other table type arrangement wherein onlya limited surface area is required. It can be seen that the recess 7 maybe formed as a compartmentalized unit constructed of wood, metal, or thelike, as at 8, and is so situated to provide a slight clearance abovethe table top or surface member 9 so that the table 1 may he slidinwardly of the wall enclosure without interference or obstruction fromthis unit 8, or likewise the table may be unobstructively extended fromthe wall enclosure as when it is desired to make more complete usage ofthe table. In referring to FIG. 4, the table 1 is shown fully withdrawnfrom the wall enclosure 2, and in this position its full table topsurface may be used for purposes of a table, a bar, or the like. Toachieve the extension of the table arrangement from its wall enclosure,one need only slightly raise the frontal portion 10 of the table so asto clear the bottom of the leg assembly 11 from resting upon the floor,or rug thereon, and then withdraw the table from the enclosure until itslongitudinal slides are fully extended. The table arrangement as hereinshown may incorporate the table top 9 which may permanently mount uponthe table substructure l2, and utilized in that manner, or as revealedin FIG. 3, the table top may be constructed from a pair of leaves 13 and14 which may be hinged to each other, as at 15, along their edgesthereof, so that the leaf 14 may be unfolded into adjacency with theleaf 13 to fully expand the surface area of the table top. To furnishproper stabilization of the table top 9, when the two leaves have beenunfolded and expanded into adjacency, the bottom leaf 13 may connectwith a pair of front and rear lateral slides 16 and 17, so as to allowfor its shifting to the side to allow for a centralizing of the twoleaves upon the table substructure when maintained adjacent to eachother. This positioning of 'the two unfolded leaves of the table is moreaptly disclosed in the phantom line outline of this FIG. 3. When theleaves are unfolded from each other and shifted in this manner, theywill essentially be stabilized and rest upon the substructure 12 of thetable.

The structural arrangement of the table, and more particularly, itssubstructure 1 2, is more fully disclosed in FIG. 11, and comprises apair of longitudinal braces 18 and 19 which are interconnected at theirforward portion by means of a lateral brace 20. Structure means 21 isbuilt into the forward portion of the table substructure, and isarranged for holding the table leg assembly 11, as by use of the pair ofwing nuts 22. This structure means includes a pair of inner braces 23and 24 that are arranged parallel with. the longitudinal braces 18 and19, and an end support 25 interconnected between the back ends of theseinner braces, with said end support being disposed for reception andmounting of the leg assembly 11 and its attaching wing nuts 22. Toprovide for proper positioning of the leg assembly, a cross member 250connects between the inner braces and is sufficiently forward of the endsupport to allow a snug fit insertion of the upper edge of the legassembly. These inner braces, the end support and cross member aremaintained slightly lower than the top level of the longitudinal braces18 and 19, and the lateral brace 20, so that a panel member 26, hereinshown in hidden line outline, may mount upon the upper edges of saidinner braces and end support, and be maintained flush with the upperlevel of said longitudinal braces and lateral brace. Furthermore, thispanel member may be finished upon its upper surface with the same veneeras the table top, so that when the table is unfolded this portion willenhance the appearance of the entire table arrangement. As seen in thisfigure of the drawings, the lateral slides, such as the forward lateralslide 16, as herein shown, are disposed rearwardly of the structuremeans mounting the leg assembly, and said lateral slides connect betweenthe longitudinal braces 18 and 19. Furthermore, the longitudinal slides27 and 28 connect to the inner surface of said longitudinal braces 18and 19, and provide for the regulated shifting of the table arrangementfrom within its wall enclosure to its fully extended position.

By viewing FIGS. 5 and 6, the disposition of the forward and rearlateral slides 16 and 17 with respect to their mounting to the undersideof the table top 9, and more particularly to its bottom leaf 13, is moreaccurately disclosed. Furthermore, the assembly of the structure means21 useful for removably mounting the leg assembly 11 is also shown. Theconnection of the longitudinal slides, and more specifically, slide 27,is herein disclosed. See also FIG. 9. Slide 27, as well as itscounterpart longitudinal slide 28, includes a rear slide member 29 whichis formed for complementary fitting and telescopically coupling forsliding movement within a front slide member 30. Each front slide memberis formed having apertures 31 disposed through its web portion 32, andare arranged for reception of any common fastener, such as a screw,which may attach this portion of the longitudinal slide directly to theinner surface of the braces 18 or 19. Projecting inwardly from the webportion 32 of each forward slide member is a stop means 33 which ismeasureably located for disposition intermediate each stop means 34 and35 formed in the web portion 36 of each rear slide member 29, therelationship between these stop means restricting the limits of slidingmovement of the front slide member with respect to its complementaryrear slide member. See additionally FIG. 10. Connecting to the innerside of each web portion 36 of a rear slide member are a series of angleplates 37, which angle plates also mount directly upon a structuralsupport 38 formed integrally of the wall enclosure 2. Thus, it can beseen that therear slide member of each longitudinal slide is firmlysecured within the wall enclosure, and that the front slide members ofsaid longitudinal slides provide for a shifting, either externally orinternally of said wall enclosure, of the table I. The amount of surfacearea of the table that one wants exposed may be governed by how far thetable may be withdrawn from the enclosure. It can be seen from this FIG.5 that there is just enough clearance provided intermediate thecompartment 8 and the upper level of structural support 38 so as toprovide for unencumbered but compact sliding movement of the tablearrangement into or out of the wall enclosure 2.

In FIG. 6, the lateralslides, the forward lateral slide 16 being hereinshown, interconnect between the longitudinal braces 18 and 19 of thetable substructure.

More specifically, in referring also to FIG. 7, the bottom slide member39 is connected by means of a series of angled clips 40 and accompanyingfasteners to the inner sides of said longitudinal braces, and any commonfastener, such as a screw or the like, may be used for securing saidlateral slides to said braces. Disposed for sliding movement within thebottom slide member is a top slide member 41, which is formed havingcomplementary parts that provide for its snug but sliding engagementwithin the same. Connecting to the upper web 42 of this top slide memberare a pair of plates 43 formed having a series of apertures therethroughwhich provide for their mounting by means of fasteners to the undersideof the table top 9, and more specifically to the underside of its leaf13. Projecting downwardly from the web portion 42 of the top slidemember is a stop means 44 which is normally disposed intermediate theprojections 45 formed extending upwardly from the web portion 46 of thebottom slide, member. This stop means 44, being normally disposedintermediate the two stops 45, is limited in .its lateral sliding sinceas it slides from one side to the other said stop means 44 willeventually encounter either one of the stop means 45, thereby precludingfurther lateral shifting. See FIG. 8. Thus, when the top slide member isshifted to the left side of the bottom slide member until the stop means44 encounters the left stop 45, the leaf 13 of the table top will bedisposed approximately centrally over the longitudinal brace 18, andwhen the leaf 14 is unfolded into adjacency with said leaf 13, the lineof pivoting of the two leaves will be substantially centrally disposedover the table substructure. Also, when it is desiredto condense thesize of the table, the two table leaves may be refolded back into theiroverlying relationship, and a shift of the same to the right providesfor an encountering of the stop means 44 with the right side stop 45 ofthe bottom slide member, and when such occurs, the overlying leaveswillthen be centrally disposed upon the table substructure l2, and willbe in position to be withdrawn back into the wall enclosure 2.

Numerous variations in the construction of the table arrangement of thisinvention, within the scope of the appended claims, will occur to thoseskilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure. The foregoingdescription is mainly of the preferred embodiment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

l. A multi-functional table arrangement for use in a contractive orextensive relationship with a wall enclosure or the like, said tablearrangement comprising a substructure having lateral and longitudinalinterconnecting braces, a leg assembly providing for supporting thetable at its forward portion, structure means secured to said braces andhaving attached thereto the leg assembly, a pair of longitudinal slidesinterconnecting between thelongitudinal braces and the wall enclosure toallow for extension of the table from the wall or its contractiontherein, said wall enclosure supporting the table at its back portion, asurface member provided upon the braces functioning as a table top, saidstructure means supporting the leg assembly includes a pair oflongitudinallyextending inner braces, said inner braces arrangedparallel with the longitudinal braces, an end support interconnectingbetween the back ends of the inner braces and disposed for receivingmeans for retaining the leg assembly, said inner braces and end supportbeing disposed below the upper level of the substructure, a panel memberconnecting with said inner braces and end support, said panel memberattaching flush with the upper level of the frontal portion of saidsubstructure.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for holding the legassembly to the end support comprises at least a screw and wing nutcombination, and said leg assembly being disconnectible from saidstructure means upon removal of said combination.

3. The invention of claim 1 including a pair of forward and rear lateralslides interconnecting between the longitudinal braces, said lateralslides being disposed rearwardly of the structure means supporting theleg assembly, said surface member formed having a pair of equal sizelongitudinal leaves, said leaves being hinged to each other along alongitudinal edge thereof so that the leaves may be disposed inoverlying relationship, or the upper leaf may be unfolded into adjacencyand a planar relationship with the normally lower leaf to form a fullyopened area of surface member, the normally lower leaf of the surfacemember connecting to the pair of lateral slides, and said pair of leavescapable of being slid towards a side through the co-operation of saidpair of lateral slides in order to centrally orient and stabilize theunfolded and adjacent leaves upon the table substructure.

4. A multi-functional table arrangement for use in a contractive orextensive relationship with a wall enclosure or the like, said tablearrangement comprising a substructure having lateral and longitudinalinterconnecting braces, a leg assembly provided for supporting the tableat its forward portion, said wall enclosure supporting the table at itsback portion, structure means secured to said braces and having attachedthereto the leg assembly, a pair of longitudinal slides interconnectingbetween the longitudinal braces and the wall enclosure to allow forextension of the table from within the interior of the wall enclosure orits contraction therein, each longitudinal slide comprising alongitudinally extending rear slide member and a longitudinallyextending front slide member, each front slide member being connected toa longitudinal brace of the table substructure, said rear slide membersbeing mounted in spaced relation within the wall enclosure, each rearslide member being telescopically coupled for snug sliding movementwithin a front slide member whereby said table assembly can be slidpartially into and out of said wall enclosure, and a surface memberprovided upon the braces functioning as a table top.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said longitudinally extending frontand rear slide members are complemental in shape, each rear slide memberdisposed for snug sliding movement partially within a front slidemember, and angle plates interconnecting between each rear slide memberand within the wall enclosure to secure the table arrangement to thesame.

6. The invention of claim 5 including stop means operatively associatedbetween each front and rear slide member combination to limit the rangeof extension and withdrawal of the table assembly with respect to thewall enclosure.

1. A multi-functional table arrangement for use in a contractive orextensive relationship with a wall enclosure or the like, said tablearrangement comprising a substructure having lateral and longitudinalinterconnecting braces, a leg assembly providing for supporting thetable at its forward portion, structure means secured to said braces andhaving attached thereto the leg assembly, a pair of longitudinal slidesinterconnecting between the longitudinal braces and the wall enclosureto allow for extension of the table from the wall or its contractiontherein, said wall enclosure supporting the table at its back portion, asurface member provided upon the braces functioning as a table top, saidstructure means supporting the leg assembly includes a pair oflongitudinally extending inner braces, said inner braces arrangedparallel with the longitudinal braces, an end support interconnectingbetween the back ends of the inner braces and disposed for receivingmeans for retaining the leg assembly, said inner braces and end supportbeing disposed below the upper level of the substructure, a panel memberconnecting with said inner braces and end support, said panel memberattaching flush with the upper level of the frontal portion of saidsubstructure.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for holdingthe leg assembly to the end support comprises at least a screw and wingnut combination, and said leg assembly being disconnectible from saidstructure means upon removal of said combination.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 including a pair of forward and rear lateral slidesinterconnecting between the longitudinal braces, said lateral slidesbeing disposed rearwardly of the structure means supporting the legassembly, said surface member formed having a pair of equal sizelongitudinal leaves, said leaves being hinged to each other along alongitudinal edge thereof so that the leaves may be disposed inoverlying relationship, or the upper leaf may be unfolded into adjacencyand a planar relationship with the normally lower leaf to form a fullyopened area of surface member, the normally lower leaf of the surfacemember connecting to the pair of lateral slides, and said pair of leavescapable of being slid towards a side through the co-operation of saidpair of lateral slides in order to centrally orient and stabilize theunfolded and adjacent leaves upon the table substructure.
 4. Amulti-functional table arrangement for use in a contractive or extensiverelationship with a wall enclosure or the like, said table arrangementcomprising a substructure having lateral and longitudinalinterconnecting braces, a leg assembly provided for supporting the tableat its forward portion, said wall enclosure supporting the table at itsback portion, structure means secured to said braces and having attachedthereto the leg assembly, a pair of longitudinal slides interconnectingbetween the longitudinal braces and the wall enclosure to allow forextension of the table from within the interior of the wall enclosure orits contraction therein, each longitudinal slide comprising alongitudinally extending rear slide member and a longitudinallyextending front slide member, each front slide member being connected toa longitudinal brace of the table substructure, said rear slide membersbeing mounted in spaced relation within the wall enclosure, each rearslide member being telescopically coupled for snug sliding movementwithin a front slide member whereby said table assembly can be slidpartially into and out of said wall enclosure, and a surface memberprovided upon the braces functioning as a table top.
 5. The invention ofclaim 4 wherein said longitudinally extending front and rear slidemembers are complemental in shape, each rear slide member disposed forsnug sliding movement partially within a front slide member, and angleplates interconnecting between each rear slide member and within thewall enclosure to secure the table arrangement to the same.
 6. Theinvention of claim 5 including stop means operatively associated betweeneach front and rear slide member combination to limit the range ofextension and withdrawal of the table assembly with respect to the wallenclosure.